Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

Matt's story to announce that dinner was ready. Our small group got up to move into the dining room. Just as we had earlier in the day, Alexander and I acted with the same objective. We both moved to help my grandmother.
    This time, Alexander arrived before me. Without hinting at any concern other than escorting her into the dining room, he offered her his arm, which she accepted with great dignity.
    In that moment, I liked him very much.
     
    I studied Alexander's attitude during dinner, trying to see if the odd events of the day lingered in his mind. Yet I spent most of the evening distracted by my unanticipated attraction to him.
    He spoke infrequently through dinner, which gave me little chance to learn about him through the tone and choice of his words. My senses needed a great deal to occupy them, so with my hearing next to idle, my vision went into overdrive.
    I scrutinized every part of his face. He had smooth, flawless skin, except for the two small scars by his right ear and a thin, two-inch long scar that marred the edge of his strong jaw line. His dark, almost charcoal hair had a silky, gentle wave. That being said, his eyes were his standout feature. They weren't multifaceted like mine—refracting the light back to where it came—but deep, rich brown pools that pulled you in.
    When I wasn't looking at him, I could feel Alexander's eyes on me. Whenever he stole a surreptitious glance a flutter ran through me that I couldn't identify. Was I worried he was becoming suspicious of me or did I hope he was attracted to me?
    While Alexander and I pretended not to study each other, Matt and my grandmother got to talking about gardens. Not typical back yard gardens, but the large formal ones found on grand estates, palaces and such.
    I would have thought it an odd conversation for the young man except that his round glasses gave him such a bookish look. He couldn't have landed on a subject more dear to my grandmother's heart. Her joyful expression as they discussed their favorites was a pleasure to see.
    "I understand you have some fantastic gardens here on your estate, Mrs. Danann." Matt said as he fiddled with his tie.
    "How nice, you must come by often to enjoy them. I designed them myself."
    Something seemed to roll around in Matt's mind when she said this. As if a memory was moving from deep inside to the forefront.
    "Wait a minute, Órlaith Danann," he said, not speaking to her but as if the name meant something to him. He smacked his head with the palm of his hand.
    "How did I miss that? Órlaith Danann designed some of the most famous gardens in Europe during the 19 th century! Are you related?"
    I hid my amusement and waited to see how she would answer his question.
    "Sure and I'm her namesake," she said.
    Well, that was almost true. She was the Órlaith Danann who designed those gardens, but confessing that fact would show her age; or more likely, since the truth would be impossible in their minds, they would believe she was crazy or demented.
    To dissuade any more probing from Matt, I drew Alexander into the conversation saying the first thing that came to mind.
    "Mr. Mannus, your daughter is completely charming."
    He beamed. The corners of his eyes crinkled and those dark chocolate pools drew me in deeper.
    "Thank you, she likes you too. When I left her with Matt's mother this evening she still hadn't stop talking about you."
    Though his response was pleasant enough, I regretted mentioning Sophia the second the words escaped. The comment had to remind him of how we met. I reprimanded myself for indirectly mentioning the very thing I wanted him to forget.
    "Will Sophia be with you for your entire stay, or will she be spending time with her mother too?" my grandmother asked.
    Alexander's body tensed. "Her mother's not with us anymore," he said, his voice had a gruff edge that discouraged continuing that line of conversation.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    ALEXANDER
    After dinner, Shamus delivered